Former England star and Mirror columnist Austin Healey says Wales can be the rising force in world rugby. They just have to believe in themselves

The Six Nations champions, probably with a Grand Slam. The captaincy of the Lions, the job of head coach too.

If it seems like Wales are taking over the rugby world right now then we should perhaps get used to it.

I see no reason why Warren Gatland’s side shouldn’t win the 2015 World Cup. They’re on a very similar pathway to England in 2003.

Assuming they don’t throw it all away against France at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, they will confirm themselves as the best in Europe.

But the World Cup is the bigger picture and a squad of Wales’ quality and ­potential can no longer be satisfied with just northern hemisphere bragging rights.

What they must do is prove to themselves, as England did in 2003 after capturing the Grand Slam, that they can lord it in any environment.

Wales’ record in the southern hemisphere is very poor. It is time they do something about that: go to Australia this summer and beat the Wallabies.

They are good enough, but they have to believe it. England went and won in New Zealand and Australia post-Grand Slam. Wales have to aim equally high. I’m sure many Welsh fans will think I’m setting them up for a fall in the hope they lose to France by enough to let England in.

It’s a mischievous thought and it’s fair to say I do have a feisty relationship with some across the Bridge.

But I also recognise quality when I see it, which is why if I was picking a Lions team now Gatland would be head coach and at least half the side would be Welsh.

I’d start by naming Sam Warburton as captain, then hand jerseys to his team-mates Adam Jones, Mike Phillips, Jamie Roberts and George North.

By next year, when the Lions are picked for real to tour Down Under, there may be more.

Rhys Priestland and Toby Faletau, I’m sure, will be knocking on the door.

What then of England? One player stands out as a Lions certainty after what we witnessed in France last week and that is Tom Croft.

Croft had a ­monumental game at Stade de France. He scored a ­sensational try and his work ­defensively was ­unbelievable.

Collectively it was one of England’s best tactical and team performances in a long, long time and provided answers to a couple of key questions.

We now know beyond doubt that Stuart Lancaster is the man to succeed Martin Johnson as full-time head coach. The players ALL want him to get it and there is no better ­reference than that.

We know also that Owen Farrell is the real deal as a Test fly-half. I’ll wager that 12 months from now the Lions are giving serious thought to him as a No.10.

And so to the bottom line.

England to beat Ireland by 10 points, Scotland to win in Italy by 12 and Wales to pummel France by 18.